<\/p>\n
Document : Declaration of Charter<\/span><\/p>\n Declaration of Charter<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n The following Declaration of Charter was adopted at the workshop on \u0093Fisheries and Marine Reserves in India, held in New Delhi, India<\/span><\/p>\n The New Delhi Greenpeace Workshop was conducted during 8-10 October 2007<\/span><\/p>\n Over 50 participants, from across different sections of societyState-level traditional fisher representatives and national functionaries, conservation and environmental groups, fishworker, civil society groups and marine park managers, scientists, academics and experts, were involved in a three-day workshop, between 8 and 10 October 2007, on \u0093Fisheries and Marine Reserves in India and their relevance. <\/span><\/p>\n The objective of the workshop was to facilitate a movement towards sustainable models of development and resource utilization, in order to protect and preserve India’s seas and coastal zone for the present and future generations. <\/span><\/p>\n The workshop covered discussions and sessions on preserving the health and productivity of India’s oceans, and examined mechanisms and options by which the participants can work together to achieve common goals. This included providing an overview of the scientific, institutional and evaluative experiences on marine reserves as a tool for conservation of biodiversity and enhancing fisheries. <\/span><\/p>\n Declaration<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n Conscious of the importance of fisheries as a vital sector of development and high dependence of millions of fisher and coastal communities on the ocean and the coastal environment for their food and livelihood security;<\/span><\/p>\n Recognizing that marine ecosystems, in particular, coastal ecosystems, are rich spawning and breeding grounds, and provide vital coastal-protection benefits;<\/span><\/p>\n Concerned that the marine environment and, in particular, coastal ecosystems, are under increasing threat of degradation of habitats and depletion of resources resulting from overexploitation and overcapacity, discharge of pollutants from land and at sea, destructive infrastructural and industrial projects, existing and proposed, and impacts of activities such as agriculture, intensive aquaculture and forestry; and the adverse impact of these on the livelihoods of traditional fishing communities and other dependent communities,<\/span><\/p>\n This assembly of concerned fishing community representatives, scientists, academics and experts, environmental, conservation and civil society groups hereby declares that it will: <\/span><\/p>\n Commit to promote greater co-operation and co-ordination amongst groups concerned with coastal, marine and ocean issues?with equal emphasis on conservation of marine ecosystems and ensuring that the livelihoods of communities dependent on these resources are sustained.<\/span><\/p>\n Strongly recommend<\/strong> <\/span><\/p>\n 1. The sharing of scientific knowledge and traditional wisdom, expertise and experience on ecosystem-based management approaches, especially in the context of balancing conservation and livelihoods. <\/span><\/p>\n 2. The promotion of scientific research and long-term continuous monitoring of ecosystems. <\/span><\/p>\n 3. The promotion of scientific research and long-term continuous monitoring of the socio-economic development of the fishing communities. <\/span><\/p>\n Demand that the exclusive economic zone (EEZ<\/span><\/span>) of India should be retained as common property and heritage.<\/span><\/p>\n Recommend the enactment of an overarching and comprehensive legislation, which is justiciable, with the following elements: <\/span><\/p>\n And until such a legislation is in place, as an interim measure, the implementation authorities be equipped with adequate resources for the enforcement of existing rules and regulations.<\/span><\/p>\n <\/span><\/p>\n For More<\/span><\/strong><\/p>\n www.mpaglobal.org<\/span><\/a>
\n
\n\n
\nSearchable Database on the World’s MPAs<\/span><\/b><\/p>\n